NATION NETWORK

GDB 43.0: BURRRRRRR

OOOO! It’s a cold one out there today. Judging fromt the size of the snowbanks that accumulated while we were away, it has been a hell of a couple of cold weeks.

In fact, it is being called by some the most snow in memory for Edmontonians – one that will be remembered for a long time.

The winter of 2011 is so memorable that recently released rapper Gucci Mane took it upon himself to embrace the cold, getting "BRRRRR" as a part of his recent facial tattoo.

Classic. Oh Gucci Mane, your tale is so bizarre it deserves being discussed in place of a meaningless 43rd game of the year against the Kings. Go on you say? You got it.

"Gucci Mane (was) committed to a mental health treatment facility after he filed a “Special Plea of Mental Incompentency” in a Georgia courtroom yesterday. The plea claims that the rapper would be unable to “intelligently participate” in his probation revocation hearing; his condition is currently being evaluated at the facility."

After a several day evaluation in the mental institution, the charges against Gucci were dropped and he was released back into society. How do you celebrate this narrow escape? How do you begin to show the federales that you are anything but "mentally incompetent?" Why, with a face tattoo of an ice cream cone that reads "BRRRR."

Cold as ice Gucci! Come up here to E-town and we will show you what BRRR is all about.

OILERS V KINGS

Damn these skilled Kings for all eternity and bless the Oilers for keeping ELPH hockey alive through the holiday season and into the new year. Even though the Oil have less points than they did at this point last year, we can’t help but think they will have a better second half than last time around when they compiled a 0-42-0 record and led to hundreds of thousands of TVs being turned off all throughout the OilersNation.

There is far more to be excited about in 2011 if you ask us.

Look at the Oil, way down there in the TSN rankings. It positively warms the heart. And you – you over rated wind bags LA, look at you so high among the league’s elite. Someone won’t be getting a lottery pick this summer. Tsk.

WIN BY LOSING

29th place in the league power poll means one thing Nation: stay on target.

Yeah, there is danger. Yeah, you might end up splattered against the hull of the death star. But you are on the right course for ultimate victory.

i would like the oilers to move forward next year without Gilbert back there….either through trade or if no one wants his useless set of skills or outragous contract then loan him to the div 2 german league.

Kevin Weekes is just awful. Honestly CBC hires the worst ex-hockey folk. But really Kevin…I know you read this blog for tips and opinions on the oilers, please shut your face. You played what? 30 games in the show over 18 years? Useless. Also you were a goalie, not a very good one either, and your thoughts about forwards, even defencemen are usually mistaken. I just want you to know that I hate you weekes. Seriously just awful. CBC really poo pooed the bed with that hiring.

Gilbert – consistently inconsistent ! What a waste !
Gagne – too small and inconsistent – started too young and forced to stay pro by management ! (Brule replica !)
Jacques – his time is Done !! send him back to the minors or waivers !
Brule – marginal, often inconsistent. Not useful enough on a team full of pluggers !!
Vandermeer – not much of a top 6 defenseman !
Jason Strudwick – ditto ! But keep him just for the kids development in the locker room
Foster – hasn’t lived up to expectations !
Fraser – ditto for his expectations !

On the bubble:
Cogliano – on jury wait….depending if he FINALLY starts to develop into a very useful player…and stays there !

Other Reasons:
– 3 rookie defencemen not to mention a very poor defensive corps after Ryan Whitney !
– very young core of new forwards still learning the game !
– small forwards who get pushed around and lose puck battles !…not to mention a couple of them who the play dies with !

Management – despite having done many changes…needs to do several more. At least 4 more !!

Result: the reasons why the Oil are where they are !! Another listless and pathetic losing season !!

Wow, I almost had a seizure attempting to read this jumble…I’m confused by all the exclamation points. trying to understand the basis of your argument, and what I’ve gathered is the team isn’t very good? Trading Gange(r) would do what exactly? Pretty sure he has delivered appropriately for a 21 year old. Thats barely man status and he’s doing well. Casting him out would be detrimental for the long term plan of the team.

Gilbert has had 43 bad games in a row this year. The guy is clueless. The only difference between Petry and Gilbert is that Petry actually takes the body, and seems to know what he is doing…Gilbert does not. What a waste of money, he is growing horcoff talent. He should packaged up and traded for someone that is useful.

I still don’t get why people say Gilbert isn’t physical. Not only does he pin his man and use body position to strip the puck every time along the boards in his own zone, but last night was not an example of a soft d-man. Perhaps you didn’t see him punish Ryan Smyth a few times in the corner?

There are different kinds of physical. Smart, positional use of your body to bump guys off the puck (a la Gilbert), good timing on when to lay a big hit (a la Doughty and Peckham), or running out of position trying to hit everything (a la Jacques). I know which type I want my d-man to be.

Gilbert hasn’t been great this year, but 43 games in a row? You go too far sir!

I like the fire from pruritis ani. This team has got more holes than swiss cheese and you can thank their pro-scouts and Mr. Tambo for signing guys like C.Fraser, Mr.touch-icing Foster, Mr.Arizona Khabi,and Mr.locker-room Strudwick. A top three draft pick is probably in the bag but some of the young talent probably need better supporting cast to nurture their growth.

would Commadore be that much worse than the likes of Foster, Gilbert,and when healthy Vandersmeer? If i was ST after last night watching Foster Id be on the phone double time to claim Commadore then send Foster down

YES commodore would be awful here …no please don’t say such things … Foster is not THAT bad for one point eight per year til next year and the RED WIG comes at three point seven five per year…a 31 year old who’s playing for a paycheque and royalties on hairpieces for idiot fans …it would never work and we’d just being crying about whata dud he is …

actually thanks to re-entry waivers where the Oil would only be on the hook for half of the 3.75 mil he’s making, which is the same bling as Foster is making. I only brought him up because watching Foster and Gilbert TRY and play defence is like having sand in my eyes, Foster couldn’t hit the net if he was 1ft in front of it and Gilbert THINKS he has an offencive upside that “makes up” for his piss poor defence. Sure Commadore is 31 but maybe he’d come around again playing in front of his hometown and play like he did when he was with the ‘canes back in 06. and yes foster IS THAT BAD

Leand Hands: “Also happening every game is Gilbert skating up…looking for a pass..gliding…looking…couple strides…looking…nope still nothing apparently..takes stride..dumps puck while everyone is standing still on the blue line…ends up just handing the puck to the other team..”

This annoys me to no end also, and the last 5 to 6 weeks he has been much better, but little relapse tonight.

I’ve become a huge Petry fan…along with him there are a number of other prospect defencemen in our system and i’m thinking with PATIENCE we will be alright on the blue line in time …he will more than likely stay up because of the impending Whitney ankle surgery

…and speaking of targets or bounty hunting ? with Smac being such a bad skater will there come a time in the heat of battle late this afternoon that there could possibly be some “incidental knee contact” with one Corey Perry?

Invariably there is much excitement lacking in this ELPH thing. I get that the Kings are a better team, (compare the bottom six on each roster and the arguments dead), but this gutless and heartless thing,,,,, night after night,,, is simply sickening.

“…Sure Commadore is 31 but maybe he’d come around again playing in front of his hometown and play like he did when he was with the ‘canes back in 06. and yes foster IS THAT BAD…”

LDD…I did neglect to think on the half price part,thanks but y’know he was at the peak of his career in ‘o6 but i’m thinking an NHL Dman puts on a ton ‘o miles in five years. I see that he’s doing a ‘sheldon’ now but in Springfield and THEY haven’t played him yet so…for me Foster at least isn’t, as they say, disgruntled…

Other than having a cool last name–similar to a computer that I once bought back in my junior high days, Commodore is no answer to our d needs.
I would love to have someone really mean back there. Wiesnewski would’ve been nice but I’ll pass on the guy from fort sask….